Jim Ross has opened up about why he wasn’t shocked by the passing of Andrew Martin, better known as Test in his WWE tenure.
It’s tragic to say but given the nature of professional wrestling, some deaths are sadly less surprising than others. Over the decades, as fans and those within the industry, we’ve been hit with so many shocking tragedies that it’s far too easy to become immune and forget that we’re talking about real people with friends and families.
Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin, better known by his ring name Test, was born on March 17, 1975, in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Debuting in 1997, Test quickly rose to prominence when he joined the WWE and was tipped to be a big “homegrown” superstar. Test secured several accolades, including the Intercontinental Championship, European Championship, Hardcore Championship, a memorable feud with Shane McMahon and a storyline with Stephanie McMahon.
He also achieved success in the tag team division, winning both the WCW Tag Team Championship and the World Tag Team Championship with Booker T. On March 13, 2009, just four days before his 34th birthday, tragedy struck as Test was found dead in his Tampa, Florida home. The cause of his untimely passing was attributed to an accidental overdose of oxycodone.
Speaking of Test’s passing on Grilling JR, Jim Ross said:
“It was his biggest opponent, drug addiction. He couldn’t win, he didn’t win, and it killed him, That is as abrupt an ending as you can ask for. I must tell you that when I heard that he had passed away, I wasn’t shocked because he became very dependent on painkillers, muscle relaxers, and downers in general.”
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